Oludayo Tade of the Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, addresses the problems with the content of the Advert recently sponsored by Chief Ayodele Fayose, Governor of Ekiti State …

Governor Ayodele Fayose is a character that appears to defy social norms. Defying social norms is not a problem because it encourages debate and promotes engagement with issues as they develop. There is no rule that says somebody is right because you align with public opinion or with the views of the majority. When people defy social norms, they go against what the ‘majority’ sees as right or wrong. This is perception, which may be jaundiced. Hence, a deviant is one who does something or engages in an habit condemned by the majority as unwholesome. It is against this background that the likes of Governor Ayodele Fayose can facilitate social change (violent or peaceful) through their utterances and symbolic representations such as what has been called ‘death-wish advert’ published on the front page of national newspapers against the All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate, General Muhammad Buhari.

Fayose did not do anything unusual from what most of us do. In Nigeria, there is spiritual explanation for people’s failures. Usually, we go to Alfas, Imams, and Pastors who give the notion that the source of our problems is tied to somebody. Hence, when we gather in churches and even as expressed in several church programme themes (“breaking the backbone of enemies”; “possess your possession”; “the key to your breakthroughs”), we pray that our enemies should ‘die by fire’ so that we may fulfill our destinies on earth. This is the prayer that gets more voices in the church with the whole space filled with ‘prayer noise’ aimed at killing our enemies. Against this background, Fayose’s advert is only a reflection of what we all do in our religious spaces. The subtle difference in Fayose’s advert is that whereas we pray for the death of our enemies in churches, the enemies are anonymous and mostly unmentioned. That Fayose chose to go to the press with overt pictorial evidence of the perceived political enemy that ‘should die’ is callous, wicked and totally insensitive. And as typical of ‘politrickcians’, he wrongly interpreted Deuteronomy 30 vs 19.

Rather than base my interpretation on the quoted verse, I read the whole chapter with a view to knowing what led to that conclusion. The message in the chapter was predicated on the covenant reviewed by Moses after leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. They (Isrealites) were asked to obey the covenant to serve the Lord and not worship idols. Deviation from this covenant was to bring on them and their generations ruin due to the anger God would visit on them. This was why he asked them to choose between life and death. Verse 15 of the Chapter says “Now Listen! Today I am giving you a choice between prosperity and disaster, between life and death”. However, God still urged them to keep his commands, laws and regulations by walking in his ways. In verse 16, the promise is that whoever follows the covenant will live, and the Lord will bless their land. For me, the most important part of the message here is for Nigerians to choose a good leader who would give them better quality of life. If this will come by change, February is the opportunity God is given us again to make our choices. Whatever person (s) we elect will eventually determine whether Nigeria as presently constituted will be blessed and progress or cursed and retrogress.

Now if Governor Fayose is not sufficiently knowledgeable to appreciate the sensitivity of his message at this time in the history of Nigeria when issues of religion, ethnicity, sectionalism and power become hotly debated, what about his advisers? He who walks with the wise grows wise but a companion of fools suffers harm (Proverbs 13:20). What is the essence of having special advisers on media and public communications who cannot advise their principal rightly? It may not be their fault. The Governor may not be listening to them or they are just YES Sir! Special Advisers. Whichever way, negligence is condemnable. And if the special advisers were just interested in keeping their jobs, what is the role of the media in ensuring social order? Social responsibility dictates that the press should censor items likely to cause disaffection. I expected the advert-clearing house of the papers to consider the unintended consequences of using the advert on the peace and unity of the country. Front-page colour advert is huge money and tempting but everything should not be about money.

Let us pray that everything goes fine with the elections and nothing happens to the General. The foolishness of the advertorial is that it has given the ‘enemy’ of Fayose more popularity and sympathy like the type President Goodluck Jonathan enjoyed during the last elections. At that time, the cabal tossed him around, silenced him until the people rose up and fought for him. It was his persecution that shot him to electoral victory not because people thought he could deliver anything called ‘dividends of democracy’. Again why is age 72 a problem to Fayose? In chapter 31 of Deuteronomy, which he quoted in his advert, Moses led the Israelites until he was 120 years! At that time he confessed himself that he was no longer able to lead them. Infact, it was God that called Moses that it was time for him to die not any mortal man like Fayose who has now turned himself to death manager. Indeed if Former President Umar Yar’ Adua did not die, would Fayose have the opportunity of supporting Jonathan today? The likes of Murtala Mohammed, Sani Abacha, and Musa Yardua came to intervene in the affairs of Nigeria. No man should undermine their contributions. They served us to usher in social change.

Let Ayodele Fayose know that death is no history. It is a reality. It is a social fact. It is a debt, which we all owe. Our lifestyle can predispose us to die early. This is why Fayose will also join those who will benefit from state burial as a former governor when he eventually dies. The serial death advert is poisonous destroying the very fabric that binds us together as a country. People like Fayose have their own children secured somewhere and expose others to ‘death’ due to their unguarded utterances. I do not think that General Buhari is an enemy to Ayo Fayose. But if Fayose is threatened by his candidature, he should be guarded that the teachings of Moses which he alluded to in his advert. In Matthew 5:43-44, we are admonished to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. In that way you will be acting as true children of your father in heaven”. Jesus prayed for those who persecuted him. I know God is all forgiving. Jesus would still have intervened on his (Fayose) behalf saying “father forgive him (Fayose) for he knows what he was doing”. Thus, let all those placing hate adverts and making hate comments be warned! Nigerians will not allow the selfishness of ‘polithiefcians’ and their cronies bring death upon them. That is why a change that will end rein of deaths and hopelessness in Nigeria is desired. But this death-wish advert may be a propeller towards that change.

Source:http://dailyindependentnig.com/2015/01/ayo-fayose-poisonous-advert/

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was fully aware of plans by aggrieved Governors of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) together with some other leaders of the party to walk out of last weekend’s mini-convention as a prelude to forming a breakaway faction, it was revealed on Tuesday.

Obasanjo, according to sources, was not only involved in the emergence of the ‘New PDP,’ he indeed gave tacit support to the breakaway group, since according to him, all efforts to resolve the crisis rocking the party had come to naught.

Obasanjo, it is said, was privy to the plans by the aggrieved governors to stage a walkout if their interest was not protected.

The former President, according to sources, was not only notified, he gave his support to the move, should things go awry at the convention ground.

He was said to have been uncomfortable with the way the leadership of the party was carrying on in spite of efforts to resolve some internal crisis.

It was learnt that efforts were made by elders of the party, including Obasanjo, to get the leadership to address some critical issues raised by some aggrieved members; and assurances were given that those issues would be considered during the mini-convention.

However, there were indications that the leadership of the party was likely not going to keep to their promise, prompting the aggrieved members to hatch a Plan B, which Obasanjo endorsed.

It is said that was one of the reasons why he stayed away from the convention. When it was obvious that the party leadership was about to pull a fast one on them, the aggrieved members led by the seven governors walked out of the convention ground and headed for the Yar’Adua Centre where they declared their intension to work independently of the Tukur-led PDP.

The faction broke away last Saturday during the party’s mini-convention in Abuja in what has been variously described as its toughest crisis since its formation 15 years ago.

But curiously, as soon as this happened, Obasanjo who was conspicuously absent at the convention, flew to Abuja on Sunday to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan and some of the factional members of the party, including the aggrieved Governors.

The Sunday meeting was attended by 16 Governors and Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP, Tony Anenih.

It was reliably gathered that the former President’s anger over the treatment meted out to many of his protégés in recent times by the party has not waned, which was why, it was gathered, he directed the Governors to walk out of the convention venue to demonstrate their reservation to the way the leadership was running the affairs of the party.

Besides, the source said, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was really never in the picture when the plan to break the party was hatched.

“He was brought in few minutes before the commencement of the convention by Kano State Governor, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, who informed him about their plan,” said the source who craved anonymity.

The source added: “Atiku replied that they can always count on him in any plan, adding that he has been telling them that the party has been captured by forces against the interest of Nigerians.

“Atiku told Kwankwaso that the Governors should be bold enough to break the back of the party Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, and to move against him.

“So, as soon as it became clear that the aggrieved members’ interest was not being taken into consideration and the Adamawa Governor, Murtala Nyako, led his state delegates in a walkout, Kwankwaso gave Atiku the signal and they all walked out.”

The source, however, said the emergence of Atiku as leader of the faction, forced Obasanjo to retrace his steps from coming out to endorse the group.

“The original plan was for Obasanjo to be named the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the New PDP on Sunday. And the full involvement of Obasanjo ‘boys’ in the faction should have sent enough message that the former President was fully in the know of what was going on,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the crisis got messier on Tuesday when a group within its fold expressed readiness to file papers before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to seek deregistration of the party.

In fact the group has filed a suit at a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) challenging the eligibility of the August 31 Special Convention of the party and the chairmanship of Bamanga Tukur.

Parties joined in the suit as defendants are the PDP (1st); National Executive Committee of the party (2nd); National Working Committee (3rd); Bamanga Tukur (4th); and INEC (5th).

The group gave its name as ‘PDP Stakeholders Forum’.

At a press conference in Abuja it claimed that last Saturday’s convention of the party was hosted with fake documents which they claimed is against the law, and punishable with de-registration.

Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, who read the text of the briefing also disclosed that the group would seek cancellation of the convention in the court.

Counsel to Ugochinyere, Elochukwu Nweke, in an originating summon, is praying the court to determine: “Whether the Ist defendant complied with Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) before holding the National Convention of August 31, 2013.

“Whether the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants complied with Section 85(3) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) in electing the officers of the 1st defendant on the August 31, 2013.

“Whether the 4th defendant (Tukur) is qualified in line with the 1st defendant’s constitution to preside over the 1st defendant’s National Convention held recently.

“Whether the 4th defendant is qualified in line with Section 10(1) of the Ist defendant’s (PDP) constitution to hold the office of the National Chairman of the 1st defendant.

“Whether the 1st defendant’s National Convention held recently is unconstitutional, unlawful, and void and of no local effect.

“Whether or by virtue of Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, the 4th defendant can validly recognise the National Convention of the 1st defendant held recently and the officers elected at the convention.

“Whether Section 32(4) of the 1st defendant Constitution 2012 as amended is unconstitutional or complied with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and the Electoral Act.”

According to Ugochinyere, Tukur is not qualified to lead the party as he had earlier been expelled from its fold and was not granted any waiver by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party before he was made the chairman.

Ugochinyere said the constitution used by the party leaders in conducting the mini-convention was a forged one, a condition that qualifies PDP for outright deregistration.

According to him, PDP leaders doctored the 2012 amended constitution of the party in breach of the provisions of the Electoral Act.

“The proof of these evidences can be seen in the approved memo by the PDP NEC upon which the amendment was done in 2012. The original version of the PDP constitution filed with INEC will as well prove these violations.

“By the provisions of Section 78(7)1 of the Electoral Act, INEC was empowered to deregister any political party which breaches any of the requirements for registration as a political party.

“The penalty for violation of the provisions of the constitutional requirements for a political party’s existence is deregistration.

“So, we will ask the court to nullify the convention as it was held with a fake document and as well as seek to deregister the party for violating the law,” Ugochinyere added.

Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State – one of the ‘rebel’ leaders also spoke on the crisis in Minna on Tuesday, saying “what happened at the special convention in Abuja was not about any faction but normal political rough weather that is not peculiar to the PDP alone.”

The Governor stated this at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre in Minna where he met with party stakeholders in the state.

He said though his group walked out of the convention, they remained members of the PDP and are open to reconciliation.

“We were being systematically schemed out of the party because some of us are being viewed as disloyal members of the PDP,” he told the gathering.

Attendance at the meeting included some executives of state PDP chapter.

Aliyu explained that PDP was being hijacked by a section to satisfy personal ambitions of some individuals who are interested in imposing their loyalists to do their bidding.

Meanwhile, a group in Osun State has admonished President Goodluck Jonathan to handle the leadership crisis currently rocking the party with utmost care to prevent its break up.

National Leader of Yoruba Youth Allaince (YYA), Jackson Olalekan Ojo, gave the advice in a statement in Osogbo on Tuesday.

While noting that the current crisis rocking the PDP is not too palatable, the group explained that the President needed to evolve measures and strategies to nip the crisis in the bud before it goes out of hand.

Source:http://www.dailyindependentnig.com/2013/09/obasanjo-linked-with-emergence-of-new-pdp/

why is it so hard to do simple things in Nigeria? Just to get a cargo train from Lagos to Kano is a big problem for us?

Anxiety gripped the nation’s maritime stakeholders Monday, as the haulage train transporting 20 containers from Lagos to Inland Container Nigeria Limited (ICNL) depots in Kano and Kaduna states, broke down at Mopa, a town in Kogi state.

The breakdown is coming on the maiden journey in the deal by the Nigerian Rail Way Corporation (NRC) to evacuate containers at the ports last Friday after a 16-year break, has raising doubts over the efficiency of container haulage from the ports.

The train freighting 20 units of 40 foot containers, departed Lagos Ports Complex, Apapa for Kano and Kaduna after an elaborate ceremony, presided over by chairman of NRC board, Kawu Baraje.

Confirming the incident, a top management staff of ICNL, owners of the depots where the cargoes should be delivered, told **Daily Independent** on Monday, that the containers were yet to arrive the Kano, because it broke down in Mopa, about 330 km flight distance from Lagos.

The official lamented: “The NRC brought a bad train to carry containers and has broken down in Mopa.”

More worrisome, the source added, is the fact that this maiden trip involving the haulage of 20 units of containers is a far cry from the anticipated size of the business, and indeed a major setback for ICNL.

When contacted on Monday, NRC spokesman, David Ndakotsu denied knowledge of any incident involving its train, saying that, “I am not aware of that, I will find out. If the train breaks down, I should know as head of PR department.”

When asked why the train was yet to arrive destination since take off on Friday, Ndakotsu said, “it is a cargo train and does not have the speed of a passenger train.”

Managing director of NRC, Adeseyi Sijuwade enthused at the flag off ceremony that “this day will go down in the annals of history of the corporation as a day we recommenced NRC’s active participation in the lifting of container cargoes fronm the ports to hinterland and in enhancing the ports decongestion drive.”

Four locomotives were also launched at the ceremony, which NRC claims were acquired brand new.

Stakeholders in the sector however debunked the claim, describing the engines as refurbished, urging the corporation to engage in honest procurement if they would encourage patronage from those who current rely on the nation’s dilapidated roads, for haulage of goods, including petroleum products across the country.

Source:http://www.dailyindependentnig.com/2013/08/anxiety-as-container-laden-lagos-kano-train-stranded/

As the Joint military Task force (JTF) and the Joint Multi-national Task Force (JMTF) have successfully cut off Boko Haram militants from gaining access to food stuff and water, dozens of the sect members are now said to be eating human flesh for survival in Magumeri forest.

A suspected militant, Momodu Bukar, told newsmen on Saturday in Maiduguri that he fled the camp at the forest on Thursday when it became obvious that he was going to be eaten. “I thank God that I escaped because I would have been slaughtered by now to provide meal for my colleagues at the camp,” Bukar said.

The suspected militant was captured by a Youth Vigilante Group, popularly known as the Civilian JTF at Baga Road motor park, Maiduguri, on Friday.

He said the militants had been in the forest since May, when they were dislodged from Marte, Marte Local Government Area, by the Joint Task Force, JTF, on Operation Restore Order (ORO) after the declaration of the State of Emergency. “Our group, consisting of about 300 well armed combatants, headed for Magumeri on the orders of the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau, shortly before the military took over Marte Camp. We have been wandering in the forest. We have exhausted our food and water supply, and so, everybody became hungry,” Bukar said.

He also said that they lost contact with Shekau due to the closure of GSM services by the Defence Headquarters. “It all started last Monday when three of the combatants in camp died of acute hunger, and it became obvious that all of us will die if action was not taken. The leader of the group, Abu Omar, directed that a non combatant member be slaughtered to provide meal for the rest. The meat provided meal for the combatant for just two days and another person was killed in the same manner on Wednesday. So, it became certain that I might be the next person since I am also a non combatant member,” he said.

Bukar said he escaped after volunteering to help search for drinking water for the group in a nearby village. “I left the camp on Thursday evening after agreeing to fetch water from the village. After leaving the camp, I started running until I arrived at Magumeri town, so, I slept in the motor park before boarding a vehicle to Maiduguri with the little money on me,” he said.
Source:http://www.dailyindependentnig.com/2013/08/hunger-boko-haram-members-now-eat-human-flesh/

An Ibadan based clergy and the General Overseer of Clear Revelation Ministry International, Jeremiah Oluwarotimi Adeyeye, has predicted that President Goodluck Jonathan might be the last President to be produced by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) unless “the path of obedience to God’s instruction is towed by the leadership of the party.”

Such path, in the words of the servant of God “is for the President not to be deluded by the hypocrites and merchants of confusion to believe that alternative avenues can be used to achieve genuine reconciliation and unity of Nigeria.”

He insisted that “Sovereign National Conference (SNC) is the only platform upon which the entire country can be sincerely reconciled and reunited.”

Adeyeye, an apostle reputed for accurate predictions, going by the fulfillment of his predictions in the past spoke on Friday at a press conference in Ibadan during which he also warned that the days of those fueling and funding resentment and rebellion currently going on in the northern part of the country are numbered.

He maintained that the plan and purpose of God for Nigeria “is to remain one indivisible, strong and sovereign nation because the strength of Nigeria lies in its present size”, adding, “the end time programme of God was built around Nigeria, in other words, Nigerian nation is central to the final revival of this end time through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“The reason God endowed Nigeria with the vast and abundant mineral and material resources is for every citizen of this country to be self-sufficient and fulfilled like the Biblical Isrealites.

“Unfortunately, reverse is the case, because a clique of powerful individuals is amassing the mammoth wealth of the entire nation, thereby impoverishing God’s own people. Therefore, serious disaffection has been generated amongst the various ethnic groups in the country, hence, the people no longer have sense of belonging in the present Nigerian nation”, the clergyman noted.

He remarked that the consequences of all these disobedience were the security challenges facing the country and the present crisis rocking the boat of the PDP and if the disobedience persists, “the on-going crisis in the ruling PDP will degenerate to the extent that Goodluck Jonathan will be the last president in Nigeria. In other words, the party will cease to be in power and in control of the nation’s affairs.”

Source:http://www.dailyindependentnig.com/2013/08/jonathan-may-be-last-pdp-president-cleric-predicts/

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), on Friday dismissed fears that Nigeria may cease to exist as a nation by 2015 due largely to present political uncertainties.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan and Northern governors have praised Babangida, who turns 72 today, for living a life of accomplishments.

The retired soldier, who spoke to journalists at his hilltop mansion ahead of today’s celebration, said although Nigeria is grappling with many challenges that does not give any indication that the country will go into extinction.

“Forget about the prophets of doom’s predictions that the country will disintegrate in 2015. I cannot see it happening,” he began.

He spoke further: “Nations don’t just go into disintegration like that. There must be indications on ground which may not be less than two or three years for people to see the signs of disintegration.

“A country that is about to disintegrate does not just happen overnight. From the prevailing circumstances on the ground, there is no imminent danger to the continued existence of Nigeria as one indivisible entity.

“I know it will not happen, although people say all sorts of things simply to cause fears among Nigerians”.

Blaming reports of imminent disintegration of the country on foreign media, Babangida declared, “One thing I have come to realise is that Nigeria is one of the most amazing countries in the world. When you are outside the country, you will think the country is about to collapse only for you to return and see people smiling and laughing.”

Babangida also disagreed with former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who said in Ibadan on Tuesday that younger generation of leaders has failed integrity test.

“It is not totally true that younger generation of politicians and present day leaders in Nigeria have failed Nigerians,” Babangida said, adding that “some of the young leaders are really doing well.”

Reiterating his earlier position not to seek elective office again, the former military ruler said he would continue to be a stabilising factor in the politics of Nigeria by playing the role of an elder statesman to politicians when the need arises.

In a congratulatory letter to the retired army general, President Jonathan conveyed assurances of his high esteem and warm personal regards.

“On behalf of my family, the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I rejoice with you as you mark your 72nd birthday anniversary.

“I join your family, numerous friends and many well-wishers to thank Almighty God for His continued guidance, protection and provision for you in the past seventy-two years of a life of outstanding accomplishment,” Jonathan wrote.

Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) also felicitated with Babangida, commending his untiring efforts towards promoting and preserving the unity of Nigeria.

A goodwill message signed by Danladi Ndayebo, Chief Press Secretary to NSGF Chairman and Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, described the 72-year-old as a man who has not only left landmarks in the military but a leader and role model for young generations present and unborn to emulate.

“General Babangida’s life symbolises statesmanship, patriotism, vision and courage which are some of the excellent leadership virtues that have guided him through his years of active public service life,” Aliyu said.

Source: http://www.dailyindependentnig.com/2013/08/nigeria-wont-disintegrate-by-2015-babangida/

Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has denied a statement credited to a former Education Minister, Dauda Brima, that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the NEF have decided to support President Goodluck Jonathan to run again in 2015.

Speaking to newsmen in Bauchi on Monday, NEF spokesman, Ango Abdullahi, said there was no time the two groups gave their support to the President for another term of office.

According to Abdullahi, the statement credited to Brima in the media following a visit to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bamanga Tukur, was neither the view of the ACF nor the Northern Elders Forum.

“I understand that he made the statement in the name or on behalf of northern elders.

“If he left northern elders without qualification, as we saw in the last few days when making enquiries, there is the obvious interpretation as to whether he was speaking on behalf of Arewa Consultative Forum where there are many northern elders or he was speaking on behalf of the Northern Elders Forum to which I belong.

“Certainly on checking, which I made personally, whether Dauda Brima has been mandated to go and speak on behalf of ACF on this particular occasion the answer was an emphatic ‘No’.

“Obviously from what I know of the Northern Elders Forum to which I belong I have not chaired any meeting with Mallam Dauda. I don’t remember him attending any of our meetings or our activities.

“So I want to make it absolutely clear that Mallam Dauda Brima was speaking on behalf of some northern elders outside the ACF or outside the Northern Elders Forum.

“So he is entirely on his own and we respect his rights as a Nigerian citizen to associate and to give support where he feels his support is needed or is deserved.

“Nobody is saying that 99.9 per cent or 100 per cent of northerners of various shades of opinion are going to belong to the same opinion but we concede his right to speak for himself and for people with whom he associates but certainly he cannot be speaking for the ACF or the Northern Elders Forum,” Abdullahi, a former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, said.

He noted that as the South-South geopolitical region has been clamouring that the President should remain in their zone, the North has reason to agitate that power should come to it in 2015.

On expression of appreciation to the President over the release from prison of Major Hamza al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Office to the late General Sani Abacha, after 15 years of incarceration openly made by Brima and which seemed to indicate that the release was solely carried out by the President, Abdullahi said the view downplayed the role several other individuals and groups played to ensure the release of al-Mustapha.

On the renewed activities of insurgents in Borno and Yobe states, Abdulahi warned the Federal Government that military action would not succeed, saying his group had advised the President in various meetings to tow the path of dialogue.

But as Abdullahi spoke, the Presidency also reiterated its stance that Jonathan is yet to take a position on his fate in 2015 since he is currently busy with governance.

Jonathan’s Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, on Monday also defended the President’s recent pledge to rein in politicians who have been heating up the polity with 2015 politics.

Speaking during a ‘Raypower’ radio programme, Abati said: “To the best of my knowledge, the President has never at any time discussed 2015. He has never at any time said this is his position on 2015.

“His position has been consistent and straight forward and that has been the President saying look let’s focus on governance.

“If the Nigerian people have given you an assignment, it is your assignment to deliver and move the country forward, that is what we want to focus on. And that was the statement about the mid term report that was publicly presented.

“Two years down the line the President presented to the Nigerian people scorecard of what they have been able to do. He said ‘I took over and now two years down the line I have moved the country forward, this is the evidence’.

“Nobody has been able to dispute the evidence. So we must be able to make a distinction between politicking, the fact and reality. The President stands on the side of truthfulness, of fact, of reality. So he wants to be engaged at the level of his performance.

“And I will continue to tell Nigerians that this Presidency will remain focused. He is doing the job that Nigerians have given him and he is making progress and has provided evidence that he is making progress. People who concentrate on politics want to distract Mr. President,” Abati said.

Source:http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/07/we-wont-support-jonathan-for-2015-northern-elders-insist/

Why can Nigerian government officials not follow simple instructions?

The Nigerian Nationals Association (NNA), Madrid, Spain, in collaboration with the Federation of Nigerian Nationals, are set to carry out a protest that will halt all activities at the Nigerian embassy in Madrid, Spain.

The Nigeria nationals are aggrieved over the embassy’s high consular fee, which are considered to be the highest compared to that of other countries in Spain.

They are also peeved that the embassy is yet to comply with the directive of Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, to reduce passport renewal fee from 100 euros to 60.

According to the President of the Nigerian Nationals Association in Spain, Comrade Lamptay Oriakhi, and the secretary general, Uchendu Precious Onuoha, “a month after the reduction and approval was made in a meeting with the ambassador, embassy officials are still collecting 100 euros for passport renewal.

“When the report was made during a meeting with the ambassador on July 17, 2013 she confirmed that the approval took immediate effect from the day she pronounced it, and was surprised to hear that the embassy’s staff continues to collect 100 euros in her absence. And she ordered that all the people who paid more than 60 euros would be refunded. In spite of that, the embassy still collects the initial fee to the detriment of Nigerian nationals here in Spain,” Onuoha said in a statement made available to Saturday Independent.

The protest, according to the statement, was initially billed for Friday, July 26, but has been moved to next week so as to commiserate with the Spanish government over the Santiago train crash.

Source:http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/07/nigerians-in-spain-set-to-protest-against-passport-renewal-fees/

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Former member of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) representing Benue State, Abu King Shuluwa, has said that Nigeria may disintegrate if President Goodluck Jonathan contests in 2015.

He, however, noted that if President Jonathan does not heed the calls by those he christened “political jobbers” to contest the 2015 presidential elections, then he will stop the nation from disintegrating.

The elder statesman, who gave the warning while speaking with newsmen in Makurdi on Thursday while reacting to the recent Abuja High Court ruling, which cleared the President to contest the 2015 presidential election, said should Jonathan contest the election, Nigeria may descend into a state of anarchy.

His words: “Any attempt by Jonathan to run for the election would plunge this country into total anarchy or revolution because the people feel betrayed by a president who told them that he would run for one term and thereafter return power to the North”.

Shuluwa added, “The people urging him to contest are the cabal and political jobbers surrounding Jonathan because of their selfish interest, which is against the wishes of the majority of Nigerians. They forget that they are very few in number compared to the rest of Nigerians.

“I saw a vision of the country disintegrating by 2015, but the only person that can save Nigeria from the impending disintegration is President Jonathan and he can do that by not contesting the 2015 presidential election, he said.

Describing them as “Selfish people who do not have the interest of the country at heart at all”, he warned Jonathan to “be weary of them because when the revolution comes, it will not leave anybody behind.

“Nigerians are saying he should not contest. If he does, then he is calling for the total revolution, which will affect every household.

“That revolution will start the day Jonathan is announced as the candidate of the PDP. If he dares win the election, he will hardly be sworn-in because of the revolution”.

Source:http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/07/nigeria-may-disintegrate-if-jonathan-contests-in-2015-shuluwa-6/

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